Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night - Volume 5.djvu/101

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Thereupon the Commander of the Faithful smiled and made him a handsome present and he went away rejoicing.  And I have heard another story of

HARUN AL-RASHID AND THE THREE POETS


The Prince of True Believers, Caliph Harun al-Rashid, was exceeding restless one night; so he rose and walked about his palace, till he happened upon a handmaid overcome with wine.  Now he was prodigiously enamoured of this damsel; so he played with her and pulled her to him, whereupon her zone fell down and her petticoat-trousers were loosed and he besought her of amorous favour.  But she said to him, “O Commander of the Faithful wait till to-morrow night, for I am unprepared for thee, knowing not of thy coming.”  So he left her and went away.  But, when the morrow showed its light and the sun shone bright, he sent a page to her saying, “The Commander of the Faithful is about to visit thine apartment;” but she replied, “Day doth away with the promise of night.”  So he said to his courtiers, “Make me somewhat of verse, introducing these words, ‘The Promise of Night is effaced by Day.’” Answered they, “We hear and obey,” and Al-Rakáshi [FN#109] came forward and recited the following couplets,

    “By Allah, couldst thou but feel my pain, *          Thy rest had turned and had fled away.